Saudi king aims for smooth succession in troubled region
 

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Bv...bf6b1a95ca.jpgSaudi King Abdullah's unprecedented decision to appoint a second heir to his throne appears aimed at ensuring a smooth succession in a region thrown into turmoil by the Arab Spring. The 90-year-old monarch took the surprise measure Thursday naming his youngest half-brother Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz as a second heir, next in line after the ailing Crown Prince Salman. In effect, he stripped Prince Salman of the customary right to name his successor. The king's decision was passed by three quarters of the Board of Succession, established by King Abdullah himself in 2006 to institutionalise the process of transition.




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